Four suspected militants have been killed in Kabardino-Balkaria, in Russia's restive North Caucasus region.

Russia's National Antiterrorist Committee said the men killed on the evening of June 9 included the alleged leader of the group, Adam Shigalugov, who appears on an international most-wanted list, as well as Mukhamed Balagov, who was wanted by Russian authorities.

Officials say the four men were killed when a bomb they were transporting in a car exploded during a shootout.

No casualties among security troops or local residents were reported.

Violence is common in Russia's North Caucasus region, which includes Kabardino-Balkaria, Ingushetia, Daghestan, and Chechnya.

Islamic militants and criminal groups routinely target Russian military personnel and local officials.